Patent · US Expired

Pyro/piezo sensor with enhanced sound response

US6485432B1 · kind B1 · utility

32Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 14, 2000
Grant dateNov 26, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 14, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/4806
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A combination thermal and vibration sensor for use in sleep monitoring equipment comprises a thin film of plastic exhibiting both pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties. By providing a layer of foam material covering only a predetermined portion of one major surface of the film layer, it is found that the thermal mass of the sensor is changed to the point where the pyroelectric signal can be more readily isolated from the piezoelectric signal using conventional signal processing techniques. Because the layer of foam material is not present on a remaining portion of the piezo/pyro film, the signal output due to the film's piezoelectric properties is not unduly dampened and attenuated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.